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Rainbow Lodge

MY REVIEW: We have always considered Rainbow Lodge a go-to restaurant to impress clients or celebrate a special family occasion. The food, service and ambiance are outstanding among Houston's fine dining establishments. Their business lunch menu is a really good value for the quality. We were also delighted when Rainbow Lodge won the Houston Press Burger Bracket challenge with their special wild game burger. Be warned though, burgers are only served at lunch on Friday and when they sell out, that's it. I can't wait for the next visit.

NAME: Lenore
SUBMITTED: 4/16/2013   LAST VISIT WAS: 04/2013
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Decided to take my folks to the Rainbow Lodge for brunch to celebrate their wedding anniversary, which fell on a Sunday. We were seated promptly in an ornate semi-private room. Ordered a round of mimosas. Everyone in our party shared two orders of crab cakes, which were excellent and heavy on the crab meat (lots of crab cakes I've had recently were more bread crumbs than crab). I had the shrimp and cheese grits which were excellent. Others in the party had the lobster salad, gumbo, egg/ham scramble, and red snapper with butternut squash risotto. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. I had not been to the Rainbow Lodge since it moved. After brunch, I wondered why I had stayed away so long. This restaurant is a Houston gem. I will definitely return for dinner.

NAME: H-Town Blues Boy
SUBMITTED: 1/28/2013   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/13
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: My grandest and strongest applause to the Rainbow Lodge! What a superb team! We held my daughter's wedding reception at the Rainbow Lodge on November 12th and we are still receiving compliments from family and guests on the excellent service, attention to details, and friendly, caring and helpful staff. The restaurant looked awesome, with all three fireplaces lit giving us a warm, cozy feeling of a comfortable, sweet lodge far away our busy city. The back patio's tiny lights and surrounding trees were the perfect setting for our outdoor music and dancing.

Dinner....the best...the red snapper was fantastic in a light sauce and yummy capers, the risotto/mushrooms was the first to go. We couldn't keep the bridesmaids away from the risotto. The roast beef, tender and tasty, asparagus and salad, so fresh. The serving lines moved smoothly and the buffet constantly replenished, again good job by the waiters. The wine kept coming and my guests were happy. Bartenders, thank you!

My guests were taken care of, big time! Tim, the manager, was very accomodating with whatever was needed from room set up, care of guests all night, to departing party favors. The Rainbow Lodge was a good choice! Highly recommend it, you read my story. As one guest said to us, "This is a five star reception." What else could I ask for? Thank you, Donnette, Tim and Staff at the Rainbow Lodge.

NAME: Yolanda Gonzales
SUBMITTED: 11/17/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: November 12, 2011
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: I really enjoyed my Lunch at Rainbow Lodge. I asked for a table by the fireplace and so must have others, it was warm and cozy. The green chili and pork stew was delicious. Our waiter was so nice, he walked us around afterwards, what a wonderful patio, I'll sit there next when it warms up! The chef came out to our table, we had seen him on TV that morning. Nice touch.

NAME: RDF
SUBMITTED: 1/15/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: Jan 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: First time to visit the Rainbow Lodge. We went at lunch and were amazed at how few people were there.

Total lunch time crowd was less than 10 people ( and we were there from 11:30 till almost 1:00.) We decided to do the business man's lunch. Not a bad value for a three course lunch at $ 14.95 per plate.

First course was something they called a Golden Beet Borscht. An Eastern European person would have sued them over such a misnomer. Nothing like a borscht. In fact it may have been the worst soup I have ever had. Saying it was bland would be too kind. It is just too hard to describe except for one word - bad. The red snapper entree with risotto and/or vegetables was great as was the petite bread pudding dessert.

The waiter was attentive and made us feel welcomed. Will return for lunch again but will skip the soup.

NAME: thedrywallgourmet
SUBMITTED: 1/4/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: January 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: This was my first visit to the Rainbow Lodge and I have to say it was the most enjoyable experience that I have ever had in a restaurant. I was entertaining 5 clients from out of town and I wanted to treat them to true Texas hopitality. Well I found the place I will entertain all my clients from now on.

Our evening started with a nice bottle of wine and a wonerful appetizer platter of wild game sausage (very unique) venison and seafood. The sever personally served each portion to my guests on their plate which encouraged them to dig in. Then he explained the the sausage was stuffed with and how it was smoked in house. That really broke the ice with my guests and opened them up. We all had salads and everyone commented on how crisp and represhing they were. After that dinner arrived I ordered the bone in elk chop. The way it was plated looked so wonderful but it tasted even better. It was melt in your mouth delicious.

For dessert I had a bread pudding but it wasn't just a bread pudding it was made with crossiants. I even ordered one to-go for my wife. Overall this restaurant is awesome. With fireplaces, private dining rooms, professional staff and excellent food. I will be coming back again and again. Thank you Rainbow Lodge.

NAME: dave
SUBMITTED: 2/25/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: We spent the most delightful evening the other night at The Rainbow Lodge. The food was out of this world and the staff couldn't have been better. I had lobster and it was perfect. I would recommend The Rainbow Lodge for a Special night, lunch, business lunch or dinner (you can acturally hear each other which is unique in Houston) or even a drink at the bar after work. Thank you for such a lovely time!

NAME: Terry Pierce
SUBMITTED: 2/15/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I can't wait to go back It was my first visit to the new location. The duck gumbo was excellent. All three separate entrees were great. The duck, antelope and mixed grill (2) were great. The desserts were special and different.

Three criticisms: (1)boar chop was over seasoned and too well done;(2) the wilted greens were salty; and (3)the bread pudding did not have a fruit in it.

Not enough to discourage me from going back.

NAME: RJack
SUBMITTED: 10/4/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/09
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I have always liked the Rainbow Lodge, and take my out-of-town guests to show them that we Texans know how to eat. After reading about their new four star rating from the daily paper, I had to check them out. I must say we were blown away. We had the tasting menu; they call it the Safari Menu. Five course, five wines. Chef Rucker's presentations are works of art, and he is an alchemist -- creating new flavors using mustard seeds, venison and tiny leaves from his garden. We were so impressed; we haven’t talked about anything else these last few days, and are making plans to go back next week!

NAME: Tex57
SUBMITTED: 4/15/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/09
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: My husband and I visited the new location last night for our first year anniversary and loved, loved, loved it! I ordered the taste of wild game appetizer and the lobster risotto. It was the best lobster dish I have ever had. My husband ordered the oyster bisque and beef tenderloin, he loved his as well. It has a wonderful atmosphere and recreates the old location nicely. We will be back for our next special occasion!

NAME: lobster lover
SUBMITTED: 3/6/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: What a wonderful place! We recently had a dinner party there and the service was great. Everyone commented on how good the filet was and the snapper on pearl pasta. Very attentive. Will definitely be going back!

NAME: bdug
SUBMITTED: 2/22/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: Jan. 2009
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Took my girlfriend to the Rainbow Lodge for Valentine's Day and was reasonably satisfied. I'm not a fan of mandatory valet parking, but I suppose its necessary. Service was very good, but not great, although the waiter's wine recommendations were knowledgeable and satisfying.

The salad was great, and the duck breast I had was alright. The Elk my girlfriend had was tremendous, but we both could've used bigger portions. Chocolate cappucino cheesecake with biscotti crust was so good we couldn't get enough of it. Afterwards we took a stroll out back. Hard to believe it was the corner of TC Jester and Ella. Bill came out to 110 before the tip. Good experience, but not blown away. Will probably try something different for our next nice dinner.

NAME: Will
SUBMITTED: 2/16/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/15
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: This is my favorite place in Houston! The new chef's menu is interesting and so far, delicious! Best item - rabbit sausage! The service is always lovely. I can't wait to return!

NAME: ann bayonne
SUBMITTED: 1/23/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: January 2009
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Yummy dinner last night. Loved the rabbit sausage and grouper on pearl pasta. The chef came by our table. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Beet salad was to die for. Can't wait to go for lunch.

NAME: mimi
SUBMITTED: 1/23/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/09
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The night started rather poorly when the valet said we couldn't park our own car. We had to drive up the road and park in a bank parking log, then walk down the street (part of which is messed up and hard on my wife's high heels). We told the hostess, but she didn't seem that concerned and certainly didn't offer for us to park in the parking lot next time or either have someone talk to the valet.

Well, after putting that behind us, the food was excellent! The filet was just amazing and the chocolate mousse cake is great!

NAME: Scott Gilstrap
SUBMITTED: 1/13/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

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